16th of Flora
I didn't have much free time on my hands today. I had to help mother clean up the entire house, for it is the end of spring and many objects needed to be either changed or renewed. We also had to spend some time in the kitchen, because my father requested his favourite foods, which he hadn't tasted in quite a while: pork stew and turkey soup.
I took the both of us around six hours to get our home squeaky clean. Thankfully, father had taken Eobar to the tailor today in order to make him new clothes, for he's growing up so quickly, and so we managed to move swifter in the house with it being empty. After a short break, we went in the kitchen and started out second task. While chopping the vegetables, I accidentally cut my left index finger quite deep, but after wrapping it up with a small swaddle, I kept on working. It took us more than expected to finish cooking, mostly because, for one reason or another, the turkey meat wouldn't boil properly. Near the end of our work, mother was stirring in the stew while I approached the kitchen window. This window opened a view to the woods. I rested both my elbows on the sill and my tired face in my palms, simply staring towards the branchy forest. After two or three seconds of absorbing fresh air from outside, a thought popped to my head. I suddenly remembered about Loki. I can't really tell why, but his face just arrived in my head. I looked at the woods and wondered if he were there, within. And then I once again asked myself what would a nobleman such as him do away from his peers, isolated, with a book in hand and sitting on the bare earth? Afterwards, a strange question sprouted in my head…is he, just maybe, wondering where I am right now as well or even sparing a thought for me?
"Embla!" I heard my mother calling me and breaking me from my sudden trance. My train of thoughts suddenly disappeared. I turned to face her.
"Yes mother?"
"Are you alright?" mother asked with a slightly confused face "You've been staring out the window for quite a few minutes…"
'Quite a few minutes'? It felt like mere seconds.
"Yes, I am fine, mother…" I said, trying to hide the fact that the question didn't make me feel at ease "I'm just exhausted that's all…"
My mother looked at me both skeptic and confused. I felt my face burning, but thanks to the fact that it was late dusk outside and the kitchen was badly lit, I truly doubt that mother could notice my face turning a redder shade. She looked as if she was ready to add something to our discussion, but right then we heard the front door opening.
"Lourdes! Embla! We're home, darlings!" I could hear my father's voice from the hallway.
Both my mother and I went to welcome him and my brother back home. Eobar quickly jumped in my mother's arms and began telling her how nice and playful the tailor was with him while taking his measures. In the meantime, I went to hug father.
"My sweet girl…" he let out, holding me tightly. Afterwards, he looked me in the eyes and added with a smile "I promise you that next month I will take you in the city also! A maiden as beautiful as you deserves new clothing every week, especially when she is as diligent as you!"
18th of Flora
I had no time to write yesterday, for it had been a busier day than the one before. I had to take care of our garden, starting from watering the flowers to planting new seeds for vegetables. It was hard work but if the weather will be by our side, we might just a have an abundant crop! Later in the evening I helped my mother wash this past week's laundry. When I went to bed last night I fell asleep immediately. The day had been more than exhausting!
I had plenty of free time to be all by myself today, for mom took care of Eobar today, wanting to teach him how to write a few more letters from the alphabet. After breakfast, I went up in the attic of our house with a few books and decided to read a few pages. Later in the afternoon, I came down and looked around for something new to do. I don't always have time on my own, but when I do I want to fill it with various activities. Then, all of the sudden, I heard mother call my name from my parents' bedroom
"Yes, mother?" I swiftly replied after arriving at the chamber's door. Mother was inside, sitting on the bed next to a pouting Eobar.
"I want to give Eobar a bath later this evening and your father will only be home in a couple of hours, so could you please go bring two buckets of water from the spring?"
"But I don't want to have a bath…" Eobar let out in a small protest.
"Come now, Eobar!" I said walking up to him and petting his head "You know how important it is to be all tidy and well-groomed!" I then looked down at my mother, adding: "Of course, mom! I'll go right away!"
"Be careful!" she added as I was going out the door of the bedroom.
"I will, don't worry!" I ended with a single short glance behind.
I didn't protest, but I knew very well that the task she had just offered me wasn't too simple. The water spring mother was talking about lies beyond the heart of the forest; therefore it is quite a long walk till finally arriving. Secondly, I had never gone to this spring in order to fetch water. Mother always sent father after it when we needed for drinking or bathing, because the two wooden buckets we have are large and quite heavy on their own, let alone filled with water. It was a very exhausting duty, but I didn't want to complain. Like my father always told me, we are not a usual Asgardian family and that's why we must stick together and stand for one another.
I quickly went to the kitchen and grabbed the two buckets. It took me about an hour, I think, before finally reaching the water source. On my way, I passed a familiar area of the forest. I looker around carefully and realized I was very close to the oak tree where I met Loki a few days before. Afterwards, I instinctively looked around, as if trying to find any trace of the man. But I saw nothing. Somehow, somewhere in the back of my head, I felt quite upset. I wouldn't have minded seeing him again, at least just to say hello. I began walking deeper in the forest and I could slowly hear the sound of water tinkling on the rocks. The water from this spring is so clear and tastes so sweet, and I actually have memories from my childhood when I would allow its cold, refreshing liquid to caress my tongue by drinking with my hands made dipper, during hot days.
From a small distance, I could see that very close to the stones where the water would trickle down on there was a frail-looking creature. A fragile female doe was peacefully drinking from the fresh water, her head bowed down and delicate snout creating gentle circles. I always loved deer and does, they have been my favourite animals since an early age, but I never managed to get as close to one as I got today. I find them very graceful and delicate, but I remember I was very upset as a child when two or three of them fled frightened when I would try to approach them. This time, I attempted to approach it slowly and in silence, craving to get a closer look at it. I took a few steps and I could only notice that she didn't reach maturity yet, for she was quite small for an adult, but too big for a baby. After just a few seconds, the doe suddenly turned its head towards me and, after a quick gaze, ran back in the woods. I sighed. I wish they could only understand I mean them no harm…I just want to take a close look!
I approached the spring and knelt before it, resting the two buckets by my side. I bent my head and made a scoop out of my two palms, drinking a few drops of water. It would be an exhausting way back with two filled buckets in my hands and the cold water surely helped me gain more energy. I closed my eyes for a few moments and once I opened them, I saw a familiar reflection in the water.
"Hello, Embla!" Loki spoke, standing behind me.
"Loki!" I let out a bit scared, looking back at him. He simply appeared out of the blue. I had no idea how to react.
"Did I frighten you?" he asked a bit disquiet, bending his long legs a bit and placing one hand on my shoulder.
"No, no…I'm alright! I'm alright!" I said trying to smile and getting back on my feet "We meet again…How are you?"
"Fine!" he replied smiling "I'm strolling around to refresh my lungs. How is your day?"
"Well, not much…" I said smiling "I'm just filling these two buckets with water for home" I added grabbing one bucket and turning to fill it at the aperture of the spring.
"I see!" he added. He was then silent for two seconds, as if wondering how to maintain the conversation "How is your brother?" he then asked abruptly.
"Eobar? He's fine" I answered while placing the first bucket down and taking the other by its handle "I'm actually doing this for him now…Mom asked me to fetch some water for him" I added turning my gaze towards him and noticing he was warmly smiling back at me.
I looked at how perfectly white his teeth were and how gorgeous his smile looked overall. I felt a peculiar knot in my stomach, but as soon as I turned my head back to the spring it was gone. I decided to just continue talking about my brother.
"Father took him in the city two days ago. We don't usually go in the heart of Asgard so he was very thrilled!" I said while placing the second filled bucket on the ground.
"Mmm, the city is indeed a spectacular sight to the eye of any beholder! Especially to one as curios and clever as your sibling!"
I smiled up at him. Judging by the way he uses the words, he seems quite emancipated, I thought. I then gripped both handles of the buckets and tried to lift them up. Their weight was enormous and I could barely lift them a few inches from the ground.
"Do you need help with these?" he asked politely.
"No…" I let out gasping, before attempting to lift them up again, higher "I'm fine, thanks for offering!"
He looked at me with a cocked eyebrow as my face contorted a bit from the pain of lifting both recipients at once. I tried to take a step forward, but I couldn't, as my arms were once again dragged down by the great weight.
"Please…" Loki said taking a step forward and gently placing both hands on the handles "Allow me to aid you!"
"Alright…" I let out defeated, standing back up straight and rubbing my already sore arms "But be careful, they're quite heavy!"
Loki took one bucket in each hand and lifted them up immediately.
"I wouldn't say they're very weighty" he added with a soft smile "Could you lead the way?" he asked.
I began walking and, to my huge surprise, I noticed that Loki had no problem keeping up with my quick pace. His arms looked quite relaxed and his face didn't give away a sign inconvenience. Even my father, who is quite a strong, middle-aged man, found it a quite unpleasant and difficult task. I just stared at Loki in amazement for a couple of seconds, before he turned his gaze to meet mine.
"What is it? Is everything fine?" he asked, noticing my bewildered expression.
"Yes, it's just that…" I began, looking down at the ground a bit embarrassed "My father is a strong man and…"
"Your father?" he asked "May I know he is name? I might know him!"
His question made me feel very uncomfortable. How could I tell him that my father was Ullr? Of course he knew him, whole Asgard knew him! How would Loki react if I told him that Ullr was my father? He would most probably act like most of the nobility of the realm, labeling my father a traitor and me a pariah.
"Umm…" I began with a stammer "I'm not quite sure I can…"
"If you do not wish to tell me, I won't force you!" he cut my speech reassuringly "It was only to satisfy a simple curiosity" he added with a smile.
That perfectly white smile again! I looked down at the ground as we were walking, finding it quite difficult to look back in his emerald eyes. I moved a long lock of brunette hair behind my ear with my left hand, before Loki suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"What happened to your finger?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows, staring directly at my tightly wrapped index finger.
"Oh, nothing…" I said reassuringly as he quickly placed the buckets on the ground and reached for my hand concerned "I was chopping something for supper some days ago and I cut it by accident!"
Loki fisted his right hand around my injured finger while his other hand kept my own in one place. I just looked at him in shock, thinking he was mad by the way he reacted.
"Please take care with these!" he said looking in my eyes and squeezing my hand gently "it could get badly infected if not treated well"
"It's just a cut Loki" I said with a skeptic giggle, while slowly removing my hand from his grip "I had dozens over the years!" when I finally released my hand, his own did not protest at all.
"It's just a piece of advice!" he said while gripping once again the bucket handles and continuing to walk in the same direction "I'm telling you this because I've seen many injuries during my existence and there are plenty which seem superficial at first"
Something then suddenly clicked in my head. Loki saw many injuries? That means he's probably a warrior…at Odin's court.
"Do you mind if I ask you something, Loki?" I asked interrupting what seemed to be a small speech from his part.
"Please do!"
"Are you…just, perhaps…one of Odin's warriors?"
Loki then turned to look at me quite surprised. For a second I thought that I may have said something wrong and offended him, but shortly after he smiled and let out a soft chuckle.
"What an…interesting question" he said. After a small moment of silence, Loki added, looking straight forward "You could say that…"
After this vague answer, he became completely silent. That didn't answer my question properly, but I didn't want to push it. He didn't question further about my father so there was no right for me to ask for clear elucidation. Not to mention he didn't look very comfortable when he heard my question at first.
The next few minutes we continued our walk in silence. I wanted to revive our conversation somehow, but I just didn't know how. And by the way Loki looked at me and then slowly away or by the way he every now and then licked his lips, it seemed he was thinking of the very same thing. It felt very awkward not to maintain a conversation with someone who was so kindly helping me.
"What were you reading a few days ago?" I asked. That was the only thing my mind could come up with.
"It's an old Midgardian classic my mother offered to me" he replied smiling, as if he felt very well talking about such topics "Dante's Inferno. I'm not sure if you heard of it…"
"Of course I know of it!" I replied with a knowing smile "My mother told me much about Midgardian literature, she's a…"
I suddenly stopped and realized what a foolish thing I was about to say to a man I barely knew. Loki looked at me while I was talking and he waited for me to finish my phrase, so I struggled to complete with an innocent word.
"She's a connoisseur of literature of almost all the nine realms"
Loki smiled softly at my explanation, even though something told me he didn't quite believe me. We continued walking, but this time the silence didn't last long, for we quickly reached the forest's exit and I could clearly sight my house. I didn't want mother to see him, or anyone else from our neighborhood for that matter. Once we stepped out of the woods, I stopped in my tracks, turned to him and said:
"Thank you for being kind enough to help me, Loki, but I'll have to take it from here!"
"Are you sure you can manage to carry them?" he asked.
"Yes, I am very sure!" I let out with a smile "I don't have much to walk from this point on. Thank you once again for taking your time to help me. It really means a lot!
"You are very welcome, darling!" he said, placing both buckets down. Afterwards standing back up, he kept his gaze down and bit his lower lip, looking very anxious. Loki looked like he wanted to tell me one more thing, so I just stood and waited for him to formulate somehow.
"Embla…" he let out looking shortly at my face before eying the ground again.
"Yes, Loki?" I asked. I could feel an awkward feeling of anticipation growing in my stomach.
"Would you…" He began "Will you go for a walk with me tomorrow?"
"Umm…" was the only sound I could utter that moment. I felt my face heating up all of the sudden. He was actually asking me to spend time with him? I looked at Loki's face and saw that he wasn't joking, so I just licked my lips and replied, after swallowing hard.
"I…I'm not sure if I can tomorrow…I'll probably have work to do! Maybe, the day after tomorrow? Would that be ok?"
"Yes, it would be wonderful! If your schedule does not allow you to leave tomorrow then the next day is perfect for me also!" he said in a happy tirade "Umm…in the afternoon? Under the oak tree from the glade where we met?"
"Of course! That's perfect!" I said with a smile.
Loki looked at me and I could see how brightly lit his eyes were that moment. Not to mention he's smile was almost blinding me.
"Well, then…" I said gripping the handles of the buckets "I guess we'll see each other in two days…"
"Yes!" he let out with a hint of gloriousness in his voice "Take care and…be careful with the water, it is quite heavy!" he added.
"Thank you, I will!" I said while lifting them up with more force than I had some time before "Bye!" I finally said with a smile before beginning to slowly walk towards the house.
I could hear him saying goodbye back, but after taking a few steps and then looking behind me, he was no longer there! I thought that he probably went back in the shadowy forest and because he was dressed all in black attire, he surely blended in very well, so I didn't question anything further.
When I reached my home, I found it very difficult to wash my smile and my red blush from my face. The hardest part was that I had to hide it from mom, and even though I managed to do it quite well and she didn't say anything to me, something tells me that she is suspecting something. I just hope that she won't question me in the future, because I don't know if I should tell her yet about this strange young man that wants to approach me.
Still, I agreed to meet with Loki…and that strange know returns to my stomach each time I think of this meeting.
Hope you enjoyed chapter 3! Don't forget to review, darlings! ;) Oh yes...And big THANK YOU to all the peeps following!